Arms Race: Stabilising Or Destabilising? Flashcards
What were three ways that the arms race stabilised Cold War relations?
1) Fear of MAD
2) Acting respectfully
3) Working together to reduce tension
How did the idea of MAD stabilise the Cold War?
The possibilities of a nuclear attack would mean a retaliation from the other side which would eventually result in a nuclear war. This threatened to destroy both competitors which they were extremely fearful of and so were reluctant to use these weapons thereby stabilising the Cold War
How did the Arms Race lead to respect and recognition that stabilised the Cold War?
Both the USA and USSR were protective over their spheres of influence and so a disruption t them caused by these two states would provoke a threatening reaction. The USA and USSR were therefore respective of each others sphere of influence that stabilised the Cold War
How did the arms race lead to improved diplomacy and stabilise the Cold War?
The lack of communication between the leaders of USA and USSR isolated them and so understanding and cooperation was limited. If they fell out due to this isolation from each other then a war might take place so they worked together to reduce isolation and promote understanding
What were examples of increased respect and recognition of the USA’s and USSR’s spheroid of influences and interests?
Hungarian uprising 1956
Poznan protests 1956
What were examples of not increased recognition of the USA and USSR spheres of influences?
Berlin Crisis’ (1958-61)
What were examples of the USA and USSR leaders trying to reduce the isolation?
Geneva summit, Washington summit, Paris summit, Vienna summit.
How did the arms race lead to brinkmanship and destabilise the Cold War?
The USA in particular used the fear generated by the use of arms race as a negotiating tool to achieve superiority and dominance. It risked peace and therefore greatly destabilised the Cold War tensions
What were examples of brinkmanship used by the USA?
Taiwan Straits crisis’
How did the arms race lead to risk taking and secrecy that destabilised the Cold War?
The USA especially became increasingly suspicious surrounding the arms race as to who has the advantage. The USA and the west therefore increased their defence and suspicion as well as espionage operations that destabilised relations
What were example of where the west were suspicious and tense over the USSR?
NATO’s rejection of Rapacki Plan in 1958
What were examples of increased espionage by the US?
Operation Aquatone, Operation Genetrix, Operation 40 (Bay of Pigs), Open Skies policy
How did the Open Skies policy lead to increased tension?
Khrushchev was now increasingly suspicious of the us motives and so the Cold War relations destabilised
How did the arms race lead to increased third world involvement and destabilise the Cold War?
The third world acted as a second battleground away from the arms race and direct us-soviet conflict. Opposing support in these conflicts and events lead to indirect tension between the USA and USSR that destabilised the Cold War
What were examples of the USSR’s third world involvement?
Egypt (Suez Crisis of 1956 epitomised this involvement)
